Our objectives

Each of our objectives relates to our discipline areas of midwifery, child and family health and paediatric nursing and the health care of young people:

  • Conduct high quality research to improve the quality of practice, services and systems
  • Develop, evaluate and improve practice development initiatives that are based on evidence and best practice and provide technical, evidence-based consultancy services
  • Contribute to, and participate in, the educational and professional development of midwives, nurses and other relevant healthcare professionals
  • Support capacity building in higher degree research students and early career researchers and support leadership development
  • Foster collaborative relationships and interdisciplinary research in practice development and knowledge translation to enable system-level reform

Our work is guided by the  (PDF 150KB)

This framework has been adapted from the QMNC Framework (Renfrew et al. 2014).

Categories:

For all childbearing women, children and infants:

  • Education, information, health promotion
  • Assessment, screening, care planning
  • Promotion of normal processes, prevention of complications

For childbearing women, children and infants with complications:

  • First-line management of complications
  • Midwifery, medical, obstetric, neonatal, paediatric services

Organisation of care:

  • Available, accessible, acceptable, good-quality services – adequate resources, competent workforce
  • Continuity, services integrated across community and facilities

Values:

  • Respect, communication, community knowledge, and understanding
  • Care tailored to women’s, children’s and families’ circumstances and needs

Philosophy:

  • Optimising biological, psychological, social and cultural processes, strengthening women’s, children’s and families’ capabilities
  • Expectant management, using interventions only when indicated

Care providers:

  • Practitioners who combine clinical knowledge and skills with interpersonal and cultural competence
  • Division of roles and responsibilities based on need, competencies and resources